30 Creative, Easy and fun ways to make DIY puzzles for kids

How to make puzzles:

In this post, you are going to find 30 ways in which you can make your own puzzles at home. Some of these puzzles use highly unusual materials like popsicle sticks, old books, cereal boxes and even Lego blocks to make some fun and engaging puzzles for our little ones. Dive in, and find what works for you!

30 Ways to make DIY puzzles at home:

Puzzles using LEGO blocks and sharpie pens (this one is, by far, my post popular post on Pinterest)
Re purpose old Board books into puzzles (the amazing part about these is that you can cut them in tonnes of different shapes and sizes)
Felt Color Matching Puzzle (Using colorful felt sheets and self adhesive magnetic strips)
My First Book of Puzzles (Well this is not a DIY, strictly speaking, since you simply have to print them out and use as is! But my daughter, and a lot of other friends and parents of young kids commented on the ease and engaging nature of these puzzles, so I thought it would be really helpful here in this list, for someone who is looking for something real quick)
Paint chip puzzles (Extremely innovative, and oh! what a great way to reuse those old paint chips)
Cereal box puzzles (Oooooops!! Did you throw out that cereal box only the other day?? Well, don’t worry, save the next one!!!!!)
Twist Puzzles using cylindrical containers (Such as a Pringles box)
Painted Cardboard Color Block Puzzles
Chalkboard puzzles (Very creative, since kids can draw anything with chalk on the puzzle pieces and keep using them again and again)
Magnetic puzzles on the fridge (You can get the kids up on their feet with this one)
Popsicle stick puzzles
Cookie jigsaw puzzle (Ever wanted to eat your puzzles?? No?? Why not??!!!)
Paper Plate puzzle (making rainbows)
A matching puzzle game (Using paper, pen and objects from around the house)
Painted Wooden blocks used as puzzles
DIY Fam ily photo puzzles (great as a personalized gift as well)
Magnetic Tiles puzzles (while magnetic tiles are super fun as building blocks, this fun idea transforms the building block game into puzzles)
Giant Tangram puzzles (Huge cardboard cut into tangrams-This is bound to be a success with kids of all ages)
Craft Foam puzzles (Can even be taken for a bath)
Painted Rock puzzle
Playdough Puzzle (If you are looking for a temporary puzzle, that can be rolled into a ball and stashed away after play, then this is it people!!)
Geometric tile puzzles (Very interesting to see different patterns and colors coming to life)
Spell your name puzzle (A very cool idea to teach the little ones to spell their names)
Puzzle shaped pillows (Make puzzles and sleep on them too!! Oh, so cute!!)
DIY wooden Puzzle cube (Inspired by tetris)
Shape puzzles (made with cardboard and bottle caps)
Toilet paper roll puzzles (made with empty toilet paper rolls, and an old CD)
Puzzles made with your kid’s favourite book cover
Straw Puzzle (This one left me awestruck!! Its so simple to make, yet so amazing!)
Magna tiles+Sharpie pens (A quick diy, that is super easy to set up if you have those Magna tiles lying around)

Things that can be used as Puzzle mats:

Well, there are things like puzzle mats and even puzzle tables around, but sometimes we just need a quick solution from around the house, so we are not breaking our budgets! Here are a few things for inspiration:

Large trays
Plain, light colored bedsheets
Flattened cardboard carton
Yoga mat
Large Card sheet

The idea is to use anything that is large enough for the puzzle to fit in and is not printed or patterned, so as not to interfere with the puzzle pieces. Nobody wants to keep searching for those little pieces, as the puzzle comes to life.

So, which one are you going to try at your place??
Please leave a comment, and let me know!!

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Hi, I’m Alifya. I love doing fun activities with my daughter, Hussaina and write all about it here! My crazy hobbies include:

A. Binge watching Friends upto a point of memorizing it!
B. Watching Air Crash Investigations and Mega Structures on
NatGeo and
C. Reading Harry Potter for the thousandth time!!